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Tuesday 15 December
Tangaroa, Guardian of the Sea demands coastal clean-up
In 2004 Tangaroa Blue Ocean Care Society was founded by Richard and Heidi Taylor. Tangaroa Blue Ocean Care Society is run as a non-profit organisation.
It all started in WA when Heidi would go running on the beach everyday and come back with armfuls of rubbish that she found discarded on the beach. Richard suggested it should be catalogued and reported after 6 months. From that small community action, the whole idea of a national call to action grew.
The organisation's goals are:
1. creating awareness in the community of marine environmental and conservation issues through marine environmental science projects,
and
2. proactively participating in and organising marine conservation projects which address marine conservation issues.
Tangaroa is the Maori and Polynesian God and Guardian of the Sea and all that lives in her depths. Tangaroa made laws to protect the ocean and its sea creatures. One of his rules was that fishermen should always offer the first fish that they caught back to Tangaroa to show respect. Those that did not follow this law were punished.
The respect Tangaroa demands can be seen in the translated words...if you look after me, then I will look after you...."
Heidi and Richard named the organisation Tangaroa Blue Ocean Care Society to highlight the importance of protecting our oceans and creating projects and information to help the community keep their local coastline clean and healthy.
With the support of volunteers, community groups, industry and government agencies they have been able to create the South West Marine Debris Project to target deadly marine debris along beaches around the world.
The first part of the project was the South West Marine Debris Project which was started in 2004. Since then more than 150,000 pieces of debris have been removed from beaches along Australia's south west coastline.
However the Marine Debris Project is not just a beach clean up, but data is collected on items found, which is then used to trace the most commonly found items back to their source. By then, working with Government agencies and industry, it is possible to make changes in design or use of these items so they do not end up on our beaches in the first place.
Heidi enthusiastically reported, when she popped into our office today, that she and Richard now have over 3,000 helpers around Australia regularly volunteering their time to clean up beaches. "This is great news," Heidi said "Naturally we can't be on every beach and having lots of people taking so much care of their local beaches, we are getting the job done in so many places now".
Heidi and Richard are proud to announce new Marine Debris Projects starting up in other areas of Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and the USA, with more sites to come! So if you are interested in getting involved send them an email. For further info www.oceancare.org.au
Editors comments: It should be noted that the Tangaroa care project is not Heidi and Richards's full time occupation. They are simply passionate about their environment, as we all should be. Heidi jokingly explianed, "We have two full time jobs but only one of them pays the bills". Tangaroa Blue Ocean Care Society is a non-profit making organisation but Heidi and Richard are also partners in Tangaroa Blue Diving school. For full details call 0410 166684 or email: heidi@tangaroablue.com
